Born in Marijampole of Lithuanian parents, William Grinkevich (Wincas Grinkevicius) married Magdaline Jurkšas June 19, 1899. The couple migrated to Scotland where William worked at a colliery near Wilsontown. After earning enough for a trip to the USA they journeyed again, this time with their infant son Joseph settling in Shamokin, PA. William, as an experienced miner began work mining anthracite coal at the Luke Fidler colliery. One day in December, 1905, there was a terrible explosion badly burning William's arm and ear leaving deep scars visible many years later. By this time William and wife Magdeline were parents of at least three children: Joseph, Charles, and Francis. A few years later when Agnes was a baby the family moved to Steger, Illinois leaving William's brother Joseph Charles Grincavage, also a coal miner, and sister, Eva Wishneski and their families in Shamokin. It was a new start for William as a craftsman at Steger & Sons Piano Factory. Maggie's brothers Anthony York and Joseph York and families made the move also, getting jobs at the same factory. Daughter Helen, and son John were born in Steger before the family made their final move to central Wisconsin where William bought a farm near the Town of Little Black. Still when times were tough to make ends meet he'd travel to Chicago to obtain factory work always determined to make a better life for his family. After more than sixty years of marriage William and Maggie left their home and lived out their final years in a nursing home in nearby Medford, WI. They died within months of each other in 1964 each 86 years of age.

Of the eight children born to Magdeline and William only five made it to age sixteen or more. They are Joseph, Charles, Agnes, Helen, and John.

Two sons, Joseph and Charles shortened the name Grinkevich and are legally known as Grinker.